ISL 2019 | Sergio Lobera credits teamwork for crucial victory against Mumbai FC

High-flying Mumbai City FC saw their nine-match unbeaten run in the Indian Super League 2018-19 halted by a dominant display from visiting side - FC Goa. Coached by Sergio Lobera, the Gaurs put up a very disciplined performance to emerge 2-0 victors at the Mumbai Football Arena on Friday. The win put the Goa-based franchise in strong contention for a playoff spot.

"For me, the main thing and the most important thing is that we are the team in the league with the highest difference of goals scored and goals conceded. I’m not obsessed with clean sheets. I’m not worried about it as we are scoring goals. At the end of the league when two teams have the same number of points, the one with the higher number of clean sheets doesn’t qualify but the one with the highest difference in goals does," Lobera said in a post-match interview.

"Unfortunately, it was today (that our unbeaten run ended). In the first-half, I don’t know what happened. I have to see the game again and speak with the players. But in the first half, it was not the team that we are used to seeing. And it was not my team.

"We went into half-time losing 1-0. Second half was different. We pressed as a team. We had two decent opportunities to equalize, one from Paulo Machado and another that hit the bar. And yes, against Goa, the best team with the ball in India, when the result is with them, they are a very dangerous team. We took some risks and lost three points. After nine games, we lost three points. We went into the game to win three points, but we didn’t play well. Goa have a very good team. We didn’t score. Congratulations to FC Goa. They deserve the three points," Costa said.